The Mindset and Methodology Behind Akash S.'s 204 Interview Score in IAS 2019

I was the first candidate to go to the board that day. It was my 6th attempt and I went in navy blue suit with a blue-striped tie.

The moment I entered the room and reached my chair, the Chairman asked my height. I told him that I am 184 cm, for which he replied it’s unusual that someone expresses his/her height in terms of ‘cm’ rather than in ‘feet’. I responded saying “I am 6’ 1” Sir!”

I wished all the members and then took my seat.

Chairman (Ch.) : (Showing the picture in my DAF to me). Is this you?

Me: Yes Sir, that’s me!

Chairman (Ch.) : Akash, your track record seems impressive. You are a qualified doctor, you have served as a Medical Officer and now you are in the State Service as well. So, tell me why are you in pursuit of All India Services?

Me: (this question occurred to me as if he wants to ask, ‘why Civil Services?’) Sir, to be frank I should say that I don’t WANT to become an officer. I believe that there is an officer in me already. During my journey in Government Service till now, I have faced many challenges and they have moulded me for good. I have the requisite qualities of an officer & I am just waiting for validation. 

Chairman (Ch.) : That was an interesting answer in deed! I keep getting replies like ‘I want to do service’, ‘I will get exposure to diverse fields’ and etc. But, this was different and quite creative.

Me: Thank you, Sir!

Chairman (Ch.) : You said you have faced many challenges till now in Government Service.
Could you share one such challenging situation with us?

Me: (I was unprepared for this, so I took a moment). Certainly Sir. I was working as a Tahsildar. i.e., Taluk Magistrate of Sira Taluk in Tumkur and faced a communally sensitive issue. Diwali festival coincided with Tippu Jayanthi that time and peace was to be ensured between both Hindu and Muslim communities.

Chairman (Ch.) : How did you ensure peace?

Me: I chaired a Peace-Committee Meeting along with the Police. Leaders & representatives of both Hindu and Muslim Communities attended and expressed their concerns. We assured them of an accommodative stance as per the existing guidelines and also requested them to cooperate with Taluk Administration.

Chairman (Ch.) : That’s nice.
(Pointing at the member 1) Over to you ma’am.

Member-1(M-1) : Dr. Akash, I can see that you are already in State Administrative Service. You may expect a promotion to IAS and can continue in your own State. Is it not disadvantageous of you to attend this interview? What if you get some other State like say a State in North-East? Would you like to go?

Me: Definitely Yes, Ma’am! My destination is always IAS and I have already come a long way. Also, honestly I feel in today’s digitalised world, it may not matter for personal life that much. I can and will stay in touch with my friends and loved ones through means like Skype, Whatsapp etc.

M-1 : Hmm..! (In an appreciative tone.) Okay, tell me as a doctor, how will you solve the malnourishment problem in India? Do you think the problem really exists? Can you differentiate
between stunting and wasting? 

Me: (This was a deeply analytical question. So I wanted a simple yet proper framework). Ma’am, may I use this pencil & paper kept in front of me?

M-1 : Most definitely. Please go ahead.
Me: (I scribbled some key-words in around 30 seconds and started my answer.) Ma’am, may I answer your last sub question first?

M-1 :Yes, please.

Me: Stunting is a type of malnourishment when the child’s growth in terms of
height is not appropriate to its age. Whereas, Wasting is when the child’s weight is not appropriate to its height. Stunting is a more serious condition than wasting (and I paused)

M-1 : Continue please.

Me: Yes Ma’am. I definitely believe that the problem of malnourishment exists. As a doctor, I can say that there are numerous ways to correct malnourishment in a child. Some of them are exclusive breast feeding to start with, then clinical assessment at young age, treatment through specialised wards in Paediatric Hospitals like SAM wards for Severely Acute Malnourished children etc.

M-1 : What if you are made the Secretary of Health at the Union Government? What measures would you want to take?

Me: As a Secretary Ma’am. I would like to lay emphasis on the same solutions by scaling them up at national level. Also, I will give special emphasis to certain flagship programs like ICDS, improving the facilities in Anganwadi etc

M-1 : Ok. (She nodded in slight agreement and indicated that she was done.)

M-2 : So Dr. Akash, I would like to ask you a few questions on cyber space and cloud computing

Me: Yes Sir

M-2 : What do you understand by both the terms?

Me: Cloud computing is a process where remote servers on the internet is used to store and analyse data. Cyber space is a medium where digital communications occur via internet or with the help of internet.

M-2 : What is cyber security? What are the different cyber security threats that you know of?

Me: It’s a security system which shields against attacks or threats to one’s digital data systems. Some threats are Phishing, Virus attacks, Ransomware etc. (I was not so comfortable answering these questions). 

M-2 : What are the different cyber security systems that are presently operational?
Me: (I expressed my discomfort as these questions are totally not related to both my educational and occupational backgrounds). Sir, I would want to humbly submit that I am not so comfortable answering the question owing to lack of proper understanding. But I will make sure that I shall go back and have a look at them in detail.

M-2 : That’s Alright. I will ask you a comfortable question then. Could you tell us some of the electoral reforms that are needed today?

Me: (I was elated with the Question. but the sudden switch made me give a thought.) May I take a moment to think Sir?

M-2 : Yes, of course.

Me: (After a pause of ten seconds). Sir, there are many reforms that I can think of, but I’d restrict myself to these three.

Firstly, Transparency in funding and Election expenditure.
Secondly, the ECI should be given more powers and authority to take independent stringent actions like for example against MCC violations.
Lastly, the Voter ID should be linked with Aadhaar Card to prevent duplication. This saves a lot of effort and time for the govt machinery which goes in processing of forms 6,7,8 etc.

M-2 :Interesting. Thank You. I am done.

M-3 : So, Dr. Akash, did you read the newspaper today?

Me: Yes Sir.

M-3 : Could you recall for us an unfortunate incident involving a medical emergency that has happened?

Me: (Luckily for me I had read that news in The Indian Express that day.) Yes Sir, Sure. It is a vaccine related incident that has happened in Andhra Pradesh. A lot of children who received the vaccine have fallen ill and have been hospitalised.

M-3 : So let me put you in a situation now. Let’s say that you are the Tahsildar of that place. What steps would you take to address the situation? 

Me: Sir, May I take a moment to think? (I took time and I scribbled key words with the pencil on paper). Sir, if I were to be the Tahsildar, I shall take these necessary steps.
1. Seek proper information about the cause and requisite remedies from doctors working there.
2. Mobilise all my personnel and give them specific tasks like one group to take care of Ambulances and transportation, another group tasked to facilitate health-care personnel and so on.
3. Head the entire crew as foot soldier myself by being in the field and monitor the situation first hand to ensure all children get their due care and attention.

M-3 : Good. So, do you believe in personally cross-checking the service quality? 

Me: Yes Sir.

M-3 : So, tell me as a Medical Officer and Tahsildar have you ever personally monitored Mid-day meal program?

Me: As Medical Officer, No Sir, I couldn’t. But as a Tahsildar, I have personally had lunch with children in certain schools Sir and have kept vigil.

M-3 : Thank You. I am done, over to you (pointing at M-4)

M-4 : Tell us what you know about India’s Act East Policy?

Me: Sir, it’s a revamped version of Look East Policy. We have strong ties with Eastern and especially South East Asian countries. The Policy aims to capitalise on this and facilitate more trade and cultural exchange with these countries.

M-4 :Why is it important?

Me: It is necessary to counter China’s influence in this region. Also, because we already have friendly relationship with ASEAN countries and Japan.

M-4 :Ok. Can you explain to us about the String of Pearls Theory? How is it important for us geo-politically?

Me: The theory describes the strategic presence of China in the Indian Ocean region which has taken the shape of a string around Indian sub-continent. Gwadar, Hambantota and Chittagong are some of the ports where there is significant Chinese presence. It is important because, Indian Ocean is of great strategic importance for India as most of our trade happens through sea-route towards both eastern and western sides. 

M-4 :Thank You. I am done!

Chairman (Ch.) : Can you tell us what ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ means? 

Me: Sir, it means that the world is one family. That all of us are equal in the
inherent senses despite many differences.

Chairman (Ch.) : Getting back to your professional background. Akash where are you
posted now?

Me: Sir, I am posted as Joint Director, Admin in the Department of Pre-University
Education in Karnataka

Chairman (Ch.) : How many people work under you?

Me: Sir, 155.

Chairman (Ch.) :  Who works just under you? 

Me: Sir, The Deputy Director (Admin.), his name is Mr. Pujari

Chairman (Ch.) :  Ok. Let’s say that I asked Mr. Pujari about you? What would he say?

Me: He may have a good opinion about me Sir. He keeps telling me that
I emphasise on Discipline a lot.

Chairman (Ch.) : What makes him think so?

Me: Sir, for instance I go half an hour early to my office

Chairman (Ch.) :  Is it wrong to expect others also to reach the office that early? 

Me: No Sir, I never have insisted on that. Instead, I prefer to go only to plan
and prepare myself well for the day.

Chairman (Ch.) :  What do you plan to do after this interview?

Me: Sir, I had plans of visiting Kedarnath, but learnt that is not open now owing
to snowfall. So, I want to visit Hardwar and Rishikesh at least this week.

Chairman (Ch.) :  What do you want to do tonight, I asked? 

Me: Sorry Sir, I will meet my good friend Hemanth, who’s currently in DANICS
Service and is undergoing training here in Delhi.

Chairman (Ch.) :  Okay Akash. It was a nice interaction. I wish you all the best! 

I thanked everyone and left the room with a broad smile. The interview went
on for almost 35 – 40 minutes. I did not expect a great score, but I did not have any
regrets walking out of the room. (Interview Score: 204/275)